Corn grader



Mafy 2, 1939. E. A. BEcKwlTH CORNGRADER 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 4,1956 lill/IIIA IIII YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL May 211939- I E. A. Bl-:cKwlTH v2,156,716

CORN GRADER I Filed April 4, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN ATTORN EY May2, 1939.1 E. A. BEcKwlTH C ORN GRADER Filed April 4, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet3 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 CORN GRADER E. A. BECKWITH `Filed April 4, 1936 May2, 1939.

INVENTOR l BY ATTORNEY -IIFJP Patented May 2, 1939 UN [TED dSl TAT ES p.-oFfFlcE 3l Claims.

The invention relates to a combination corn shellerand gradingmaehineand more especially to anapparatus or machinelforshelling,grading and l bagging corn. I

lt5 `The primary `object of the invention is the provision `of a machineor apparatus of this charactenwherein corn on the ear or loosecorn canbe graded, that is, when the corn on the ear is shelled automatically bythe `machine and at *i0 the same time the shelled or loose corn will becleaned during the grading operation of the machineor apparatus, thesaid machine being primarilyintended forfpersons growing a small`acreage ofcorn for seed purposes, wherein their w working capital islimited and alsofloor space is restricted.

Another object-of the' invention is the provision ofa machine orapparatus of this character, wherein .the shelling and grading opera `mtions are carried forth successively in the .working thereof .and vtheseoperations are carried forthwith perfection and `with rapidity so thatthe working cost of the machine Vor apparatus l is `at a minimum. @2.125`Aiurther object of the invention is the provision .of aimachine orapparatus of this character, which is comparatively simple inoonstruction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, andinexpensiveto operate and manu- `n.130 facture. l v

With these and other objects in view,`the invention consists in thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in n the accompanyingdrawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention and`pointed out in the claims hereuntovappended.

`In the accompanying drawings:

`Figure 1 is a side elevation partly` in section of l 140 a machine or`apparatus constructedin' accord- `ancewith the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional View throughthe machine. 'Figure 3 is an end elevation thereof. Figure 4 is asectional view on the line ll-- of Figure 2 lookingin the direction ofthe arrows.

Figure is asectional View on the line'-# of Figure 2 looking in the`directionof the arrows.

Figure is a `sectional View on the` line S-B of Figure'Z looking inthedirection of the arrows Figure 7 is a top plan View of one of the shakertables employed in the machine.

Figf is a bottom-plan View thereof. Figure 91 is a top plan viewof-.another of the .55 shakertables.

. endless belts= I6.

Figure =10`is a 'fragmentary Vertical sectional u View throughamodiedformi-of shaker table.

Figurevll isgfa sectionalyview on the line l l--l l -of "Figure 10looking in l the-ldirection of the arrows. @I

, Similar Areference; characters `indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views in 'thek drawings.

--Referring to the drawings in detail, the mai'chineeortapparatuscomprises a stand includingtlo Vis drivenffrom a-motor 12, preferably ofthe electric -typey thef'driving connections including pulleys 143, |24.'and 15 having tted therewithel Thismotor l2 in the present instanceTis Vsupported upona ybedv I1 built into `:the-standandtelevatedli-withrespect to the corn .shellingmechanism` Hfisanearfcorn feed trough or bin I8 which delivers the ears of corn to thet20ysaid-cornshelling-*mechanism Il for the shelling of said Lears lwhenthe machine `or apparatus is loperated. The .lstand'also has builttherein a loose` corn lfee'd' hopper I9 which is located offset withrespect `toathe fshellingmechanism ll sor-25 asta-deliver loosecornfftherefrornagainst a bafie fboa1'd2ll,lthe Llatterwbeing alsoarranged with respect to the `corne-shelling 4mechanism Il to :haveithefshelled -corn therefrom fall upon said .,board1l20 fori-gravitationvofthe same to a shakerw table whenI-themaohine is operated.

Between@ the=corner posts'2l of the stand lil and'ffbeneath f the 4bed`I l :is an upper shaker table 22 having-arranged at itsabottom a cobscreen 23 .While-beneathLthelatter are the coarse and nevl screensi'f24andf25, respectively, these being in :thewsame :plane with-each otherand extend for amajor-portionofftheflength of the shaker table22-'fwhile ,thef'remaining `portion of the length rof the'latterhas'providedtherein a butt kernelMO discharge 4opening12fif-for thedelivery of butt -kernelsto a-boXZhdisposed beneath the said openingi126y and supported in any suitable manner. r-Beneath thefscreensZdandZE is a plate 2t having the opening 219 at one end thereof soe45 thatEhefsc-reeningsifrom the screens 24 and 25 `can oe dischargedthroughthis opening 29 and thefsaid screens operatefor.y grading shelledcorn.

The L;table.22 haszrfinclined suspension thereof througlrthe medium ofhanger arms 3G, these `50 :being arranged at: opposite sides thereof and.nearitheirlowerendsxare provided with spaced `holes?.lgforzselectivelyaccommodating pivots 32 to;thatl the said table canbevariably inclinedat ,will. Thisctablesz! Vis reciprooated by a rocking ,355

lever 33 journaled at 34 to the frame and coupled with said table at 35,the lever being rocked by a pitman 36 actuated from an eccentric 31having driving connection with the motor I2. The arms 30 are hung uponpivots 38 carried by the bed ll and these pivots have play in slots 39provided in said arms. The shelled corn is fed from the bafe board 25onto the table 22 at the elevated end thereof and under shaking actionof this table the said corn by the screens 24 and 25 will be graded whendispensed from the table.

Directed toward the opening 2S beneath the table 22 is a blower nozzle40 of a blower 4I which is driven from the motor I2 so that air blownthrough the nozzle 4D will dispense chaff and foreign matter from thecorn when being delivered from the table 22 after grading thereof.

Beneath the table 22 is a lower shaker table 42, it being reverselyinclined with respect to the table 22 and is suspended at its elevatedend by strap hangers 43 from the table 22. The lower end of this table42 rests upon an adjustable block 44 arranged in the stand I0. Thisblock 44 by the adjusting nuts 45 can be regulated to change the inclineof the table 42 which reciprocatingly slides on said block.

The table 42 in its bottom has a screen 46 for separating broken orsmall kernels of corn into a catch pan or tray 41 stationarily fittedbeneath the table 42 in the stand. The cobs after shelling thereof andreceived in the table 22 will be discharged through the open end 48thereof. The opening 26 for the butt kernels has clamped in properposition therein a deflector 49 while the table 42 carries the deectorchutes 50 for the broken and small kernels of corn to assure positivedelivery thereof into the tray 4l and in this manner eliminating wasteor a spill to either side of the stand.

The sides of the tables 22 and 42 have externally thereon spacer stripswhich play against the corner posts 2| of the stand I0 and eliminate anyside displacement of these tables during the operation of the machine orapparatus.

Rearwardly of the baffle board 2li is a hinged gate 52 which when openedpermits inspection of the upper end of the shaker table 22 and this gatearranged between side aprons 53 for said bafe board these aprons beingcarried by the stand it at opposite sides thereof and extend downwardlyover the sides of the said table 22 for a distance of the length of theelevated end thereof.

Next to the lower end of the table 42 is arranged a vertical stack 54having tted therein an endless bucketed conveyor or elevator 55, thebuckets 58 of which are adapted to receive the graded corn from an inletboot 51 located next 'te the open discharge end of the said table 42 andthese filled buckets 56 deliver their contents to a bag illing hopper 58having at its discharge end bag holder 5S so that the corn shelled andgraded can be delivered into a bag (not shown) ai ien carried by theholder 59. The conveyor or elevator 55 is driven from the motor I2through the medium ol the driven connections 60.

In Figures l0 and ll of the drawings there is shown a slightmodification in one of the shaker tables, wherein at the elevated end ofthis table @l beneath the screen 52 is fitted a scoop 63 having thelaterally inclined portions 64 and the closed inner end 65,respectively, while leading from one side of said scoop next to thelowermost portion or the inclination is a spout 65 and this screen isfor the purpose of grading small grains,

the inclined portion 64 causing the falling of the said grains which areuseful for seed purposes in the direction of the spout 66 whichdischarges into a box or other receiver. The screen 62 allows fine andsmall weed seeds to fall through the same and be carried out to thespout 66 into the box or container. The screen 62 confronted by thescoop 63 is provided with small perforations t? to permit the passing ofthe small weed seeds or ne grains from upon the screen into the scoop 53for the subsequent discharge into a box or container (not shown) Thestack 54 has connection with the stand Il! at the top of the latter byan adjustable bracket lill which serves for the tightening of the drivenconnection 60 when the occasion requires While the bottom of this stackhas connection at 69 with the lower portion of the said stand l0 and inthis manner the stack 54 is joined with the stand.

The cob screen 23 is removably fastened in the table 22 by bolt clamps'15. The screens 24 and 25 and the plate 28 are uniformly spaced fromone another when in the table 22 and such screens and plate areremovable when the occasion requires, the screen 23 being spaced fromthe screens 24 and 25 and is seated upon a ledge 'H provided in saidtable 22 and extended marginally of this screen.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine of the character described comprising a stand, reverselyinclined upper and lowtables within said stand, fine and coarse gradingscreens removably fitted in the upper table, a cob screen arranged abovethe first-mentioned screens, clamps on the upper table and releasablysecuring the cob screen therein, a rocking lever on the stand at thehigher end of the upper table and having operative connection with thelatter, hanger arms on said stand remote from said lever, a pivotcarried by the upper table and selectively adjustable in the said hangerarms, strap hangers on the upper table and connected with the lowertable for holding one end thereof in its reversed inclined position withrespect to the upper table, and rest blocks adjustably connected in thestand and slidably engaged by the lower table.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a stand, reverselyinclined upper and lower tables within said stand, ne and coarse gradingscreens removably tted in the upper table, a cobI screen arranged abovethe first-mentioned screens, clamps on the upper table and releasablysecuring the cob screen therein, a rocking lever on the stand at thehigher end of the upper table and having operative connection with thelatter, hanger arms on said stand remote from said lever, a pivotcarried by the upper table and selectively adjustable in the said hangerarms, strap hangers on the upper table and connected with the lowertable for holding one end thereof in its reversed inclined position withrespect to the upper table, rest blocks adjustably connected in thestand and slidably engaged by the lower table, and connections betweenthe rocking lever and a power element for the operation of said lever.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a stand, reverselyinclined upper and lower tables within said stand, ne and coarse gradingscreens removably tted in the upper table, a cob screen arranged abovethe iirst-mentioned screens, clamps on the upper table and releasablysecuring the cob screen therein, a rocking lever on the stand at thehigher end of the upper table and having operative connection with thelatter, hanger arms on said stand remote from said table, connectionsbetween the rocking lever and a power element for the operation of saidlever, and blast means interposed between the tables and having adischarge directed toward the uppermost table at the screens therein.

EARL A. BECKWITI-I.

